You’ve probably attended conferences and webinars, and maybe you’ve even read some books on how to raise major gifts. You understand the concepts but implementing them is hard. You’re still nervous about meeting with donors and asking for advice -- and for gifts. And you’re not having much luck getting meetings anyway. If that sounds … [Read more...]
The Future of Fundraising: Should You Be Concerned or Optimistic?
An upcoming speaking engagement has gotten me thinking about the future of fundraising. I’m guessing you’re thinking about it too. If you're paying attention to statistics on giving trends, you’re probably discouraged. The number of donors, dollars, and donor retention rates have trended down every year for nearly a decade. Reasons to … [Read more...]
AFP International Conference 2024: Campaign Takeaways
Were you in Toronto last week for the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference? If not, don’t worry. As in years past, you can buy the recording to every session through the AFP website. As has been the case for over a decade, I had the good fortune to present this past week -- this time, my focus was on preparing … [Read more...]
A Surefire Way to Raise More Than You Ever Imagined
There’s one surefire way to raise more money than you ever imagined for your organization. It’s not simple or quick or easy, but it’s practically guaranteed. The surefire way to raise more than you ever imagined is through the power of a capital campaign. Capital campaigns are magical because they require nonprofit leaders to implement … [Read more...]
How to Hire a Great Consultant for Your Nonprofit
As a fundraising consultant, I often sit across from nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members, who are struggling to determine whether to hire Capital Campaign Pro (my capital campaign consulting firm), another consultant, or no one (i.e., do it themselves). Luckily, sitting on a nonprofit board enables me to get a sneak peek at the … [Read more...]
The Most Genuine Way to Ask Nonprofit Donors for Advice
You’ve probably heard the common expression in fundraising: Ask for money, you’ll get advice. Ask for advice, you’ll get money. In other words, if you simply ask for money, you won’t get much more than advice. But if you ask for advice (and engage your donors in the process) you can raise a lot of money. Unfortunately, most … [Read more...]
Assess Yourself and Your Fundraising: 5 Profound Questions
As we head into the fall fundraising season, I thought it might be interesting to do a personal and professional assessment of where you are and where you'd like to go. There’s no reason to wait until January for New Year’s resolutions -- you can make changes right now. Personal and professional improvement should be ongoing. The good news … [Read more...]
Want to Be a Fundraising Superstar? Lead a Capital Campaign!
Capital Campaigns are the pinnacle of fundraising. There’s truly no better way to boost your fundraising skills and capacity than to conduct a successful campaign. So, if you want to be a fundraising superstar at your organization (and among your peers), now could be a great time to lead the charge with a capital campaign. Big, Bold … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Continuing Education is Critical for Fundraising Professionals
As a fundraising professional, you are responsible for driving the success of your organization's fundraising efforts. Fundraising is a constantly evolving field, with new strategies and techniques emerging all the time. To stay at the top of your game, it's important to invest in continuing education. Continuing education can take many … [Read more...]
3 Reasons to Start a Capital Campaign Now and How to Get Started
Nearly every nonprofit should embark on a capital campaign at least once every ten years. If your organization hasn’t had a campaign in the last decade, it’s time to start planning one today. You know the expression: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. It's a cliché, but it's also true. If you haven’t accomplished your mission, it’s … [Read more...]
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